BARBERTON -- On Feb. 8, Barberton police, assisted by agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation and the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office, recovered the body of John P. Smith, 36, of North Canton, in the Conotton Creek on Somerdale Road in Tuscarawas County.

It was back on Jan. 28 that Barberton Detectives first became aware of a homicide that had occurred at 1800 W. Turkeyfoot Lake Road on or about Jan. 4.

Police said an investigation into that offense led to the execution of several search warrants and the arrests of John Yanik, 52, of Barberton; Stephen Batdorf, 46, of Akron; Paul Wright, 46, of Akron; and Trisha Copley, 22, of Barberton.

Yanik has been charged with the murder and Batdorf, Wright and Copley are charged with tampering with evidence. All are being held in the Summit County Jail on $250,000 dollar bond.

Poliec said the investigation is ongoing and no further information is available at this time.